from The Commerical Appeal, October 4, 2009
"Dropouts from the class of 2009 will cost the state $6.5 billion in lost income over their lifetimes, according to a Washington nonprofit group focused on the importance of improving U.S. high schools.
Nationally, the 31 percent of students who didn't graduate will cost the United States $335 billion -- up from $319 billion from the class of 2008 -- as dropouts continue to earn less and face higher unemployment rates over the remaining 50 years of their lives, according to the Alliance for Excellent Education.
"As these findings show, the best economic stimulus is a high school diploma," said Bob Wise, president of the group and former governor of West Virginia.
U.S. Census figures from 2006 show high school dropouts earn $17,299 a year compared to $26,933 for high school graduates."
Read the rest of the article here.